Vice President Dick Cheney’s attempt at humor before the National Press Club Monday will not sit well in West Virginia.  Cheney was referencing the often mentioned comment by Barack Obama that the two are distant cousins when Cheney said the following:

“We'd always known about the Cheney family line on my father's side of the family, back to Massachusetts in the 1630s. My grandmother was named Tyler but it turned out she was descended from a Richard Cheney, same last name, who landed in Maryland in the 1650s.
So I had Cheneys on both sides of the family -- and we don't even live in West Virginia.
You can say those things when you're not running for re-election. But, the fact is ... his mother and my grandmother have a common ancestor descended from Maryland about eight generations ago. We are, in fact, cousins.”

Cheney did get some laughs from those in the audience, but it's doubtful many West Virginians will be laughing.

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Gov. Joe Manchin responded Monday evening.

“I truly cannot believe that any vice president of the United States, regardless of their political affiliation, would make such a derogatory statement about my state or any state for that matter. 

“West Virginia is home to some of the most patriotic people in the nation and our sons and daughters have answered the call to duty every time a president has needed their service.  They deserve better from the vice president, and so I would simply ask for his apology.”

Senator Robert C. Byrd also had harsh words for the Vice President, “That a man who has ascended to the seat of Vice President of the United States would openly display such contempt and astounding ignorance toward his own countrymen is an insult to all Americans. Now that he or the Administration he represents no longer needs their vote, Mr. Cheney apparently feels that he is now free to mock and belittle the people of West Virginia.  With his trademark arrogance, the Vice President even added   ‘You can say those things when you’re not running for re-election.’”

“This pitiful comment is not entirely surprising when you consider the source," said Byrd.  Vice President Cheney’s words reflect the attitude of an administration and a party that says what they must to get elected and then turns their backs on those they promised to represent.”

Cheney's communication director issued this statement yesterday evening: